Composite Floor

ABSTRACT

A composite floor includes a base layer ( 10 ), a middle layer ( 20 ), a surface layer ( 30 ), a bonding member ( 15 ), and a releasing member ( 16 ). The base layer has a first side ( 11 ) provided with a plurality of inserts ( 111 ), a second side ( 12 ) provided with a plurality of slots ( 121 ), a third side ( 13 ) provided with a protrusion ( 131 ), and a fourth side ( 14 ) provided with a recess ( 141 ), a lug ( 144 ) and a breach ( 145 ). Thus, a plurality of composite floors are combined together by an engagement between the inserts and the slots, an engagement between the lug and the breach and an engagement between the protrusion and the recess so that the composite floors are assembled easily and quickly without needing aid of any hand tool.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a floor and, more particularly, to acomposite floor.

2. Description of the Related Art

A conventional composite floor in accordance with the prior art shown inFIG. 9 comprises a plurality of boards 40 juxtaposed to and connectedwith each other. Each of the boards 40 is fixed on the ground 42 by aplurality of fastening nails 41 which are in turn extended through eachof the boards 40 and are nailed into the ground 42. However, it isdifficult to nail the fastening nails 41 through each of the boards 40into the ground 42 so that the boards 40 are connected by hand tools andare not assembled easily and quickly. In addition, a user cannot easilynail the fastening nails 41 through each of the boards 40 into theground 42 so that the boards 40 have to be mounted by a professionaltechnician, thereby increasing the costs of assembly. Further, thefastening nails 41 are inserted into the ground 42 to break thestructure of the ground 42 so that many holes are formed in the ground42 after removal of the boards 40, thereby decreasing the outerappearance of the ground 42, and thereby increasing the costs ofmaintenance and mending. The boards 40 are broken after being removedfrom the ground 42 so that the boards 40 cannot be reused after removal,thereby wasting the material.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a compositefloor, comprising a base layer, a middle layer mounted on the baselayer, a surface layer mounted on the middle layer, a bonding memberlocated between the base layer and the middle layer, and a releasingmember releasably mounted on the bonding member and partially coveringthe base layer.

The base layer has a first side, a second side located opposite to thefirst side, a third side located between the first side and the secondside, and a fourth side located between the first side and the secondside located opposite to the third side. The first side of the baselayer is provided with a plurality of inserts. Each of the inserts ofthe base layer has a distal end provided with a first stop portion. Eachof the inserts of the base layer has a first side provided with a firstabutting face and has a second side provided with a first tapered face.The second side of the base layer is provided with a plurality of slotswhich correspond to the inserts of the first side respectively. Each ofthe slots of the base layer has a bottom wall provided with a secondstop portion corresponding to the first stop portion of the respectiveinsert. Each of the slots of the base layer has a first side providedwith a second abutting face corresponding to the first abutting face ofthe respective insert and has a second side provided with a secondtapered face corresponding to the first tapered face of the respectiveinsert. The third side of the base layer is provided with at least oneprotrusion. The protrusion of the base layer has a distal end providedwith a third stop portion. The protrusion of the base layer has twoopposite sides each provided with a third tapered face. The fourth sideof the base layer is provided with at least one recess which correspondsto the protrusion of the third side. The recess of the base layer has abottom wall provided with a fourth stop portion corresponding to thethird stop portion of the protrusion. The recess of the base layer hastwo opposite sides each provided with a fourth tapered facecorresponding to the third tapered face of the protrusion. The fourthside of the base layer has a first corner provided with a lug and asecond corner provided with a breach which corresponds to the lug.

The primary objective of the present invention is to provide a compositefloor that is assembled easily and quickly without needing aid of anyhand tool. The fourth side of the base layer has a first corner providedwith a lug and a second corner provided with a breach which correspondsto the lug.

According to the primary advantage of the present invention, thecomposite floors are in turn combined together by an engagement betweenthe inserts and the slots, an engagement between the lug and the breachand an engagement between the protrusion and the recess so that thecomposite floors are assembled easily and quickly without needing aid ofany hand tool.

According to another advantage of the present invention, after thereleasing member is removed from the second side and the third side ofthe base layer of one of the composite floors, the second side and thethird side of the base layer of one of the composite floors are coveredand positioned by the middle layer of another one of the compositefloors so that the composite floors are combined solidly and stably.

According to a further advantage of the present invention, the compositefloors are directly placed on the ground and are combined together by aninsertion connection so that the composite floors will not break thestructure of the ground so as to maintain the outer appearance of theground after removal of the composite floors and to save the costs ofmaintenance and mending.

According to a further advantage of the present invention, the compositefloors can be reused after removal, thereby enhancing the utility of thecomposite floors.

Further benefits and advantages of the present invention will becomeapparent after a careful reading of the detailed description withappropriate reference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING(S)

FIG. 1 is a partially perspective view of a composite floor inaccordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the composite floor as shownin FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a locally enlarged perspective cross-sectional view of thecomposite floor as shown in FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a locally enlarged cross-sectional view of the composite flooras shown in FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a bottom perspective view of the composite floor as shown inFIG. 1.

FIG. 6 is a locally enlarged view of the composite floor as shown inFIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is a schematic operational view of the composite floor as shownin FIG. 1 in use.

FIG. 8 is a top view showing combination of a plurality of compositefloors in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 9 is a front cross-sectional view of a conventional composite floorin accordance with the prior art.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to the drawings and initially to FIGS. 1-6, a composite floorin accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present inventioncomprises a base layer 10, a middle layer 20 mounted on the base layer10, a surface layer 30 mounted on the middle layer 20, a bonding member15 located between the base layer 10 and the middle layer 20, and areleasing member 16 releasably mounted on the bonding member 15 andpartially covering the base layer 10.

The base layer 10 has a first side 11, a second side 12 located oppositeto the first side 11, a third side 13 located between the first side 11and the second side 12, and a fourth side 14 located between the firstside 11 and the second side 12 located opposite to the third side 13.The first side 11 and the second side 12 of the base layer 10 are longersides and are parallel with each other. The third side 13 and the fourthside 14 of the base layer 10 are shorter sides and are parallel witheach other.

The first side 11 of the base layer 10 is provided with a plurality ofinserts 111. The inserts 111 of the base layer 10 are equally spacedfrom each other. Each of the inserts 111 of the base layer 10 has adistal end provided with a first stop portion 112. The first stopportion 112 of each of the inserts 111 is parallel with the first side11 of the base layer 10. Each of the inserts 111 of the base layer 10has a first side provided with a first abutting face 113 and has asecond side provided with a first tapered face 114. The first abuttingface 113 of each of the inserts 111 is perpendicular to the first side11 of the base layer 10. The first tapered face 114 of each of theinserts 111 and the first side 11 of the base layer 10 have an obtuseangle defined therebetween.

The second side 12 of the base layer 10 is provided with a plurality ofslots 121 which correspond to the inserts 111 of the first side 11respectively. The slots 121 of the base layer 10 are equally spaced fromeach other. Each of the slots 121 of the base layer 10 has a bottom wallprovided with a second stop portion 122 corresponding to the first stopportion 112 of the respective insert 111. The second stop portion 122 ofeach of the slots 121 is parallel with the second side 12 of the baselayer 10. Each of the slots 121 of the base layer 10 has a first sideprovided with a second abutting face 123 corresponding to the firstabutting face 113 of the respective insert 111 and has a second sideprovided with a second tapered face 124 corresponding to the firsttapered face 114 of the respective insert 111. The second abutting face123 of each of the slots 121 is perpendicular to the second side 12 ofthe base layer 10. The second tapered face 124 of each of the slots 121and the second side 12 of the base layer 10 have an obtuse angle definedtherebetween.

The third side 13 of the base layer 10 is provided with at least oneprotrusion 131. The protrusion 131 of the base layer 10 has a distal endprovided with a third stop portion 132. The third stop portion 132 ofthe protrusion 131 is parallel with the third side 13 of the base layer10. The protrusion 131 of the base layer 10 has two opposite sides eachprovided with a third tapered face 133. The third tapered face 133 ofthe protrusion 131 and the third side 13 of the base layer 10 have anobtuse angle defined therebetween.

The fourth side 14 of the base layer 10 is provided with at least onerecess 141 which corresponds to the protrusion 131 of the third side 13.The recess 141 of the base layer 10 has a bottom wall provided with afourth stop portion 142 corresponding to the third stop portion 132 ofthe protrusion 131. The fourth stop portion 142 of the recess 141 isparallel with the fourth side 14 of the base layer 10. The recess 141 ofthe base layer 10 has two opposite sides each provided with a fourthtapered face 143 corresponding to the third tapered face 133 of theprotrusion 131. The fourth tapered face 143 of the protrusion 131 andthe fourth side 14 of the base layer 10 have an obtuse angle definedtherebetween.

The fourth side 14 of the base layer 10 has a first corner provided witha lug 144 and a second corner provided with a breach 145 whichcorresponds to the lug 144. The lug 144 of the base layer 10 is locatedat a connection of the first side 11 and the fourth side 14 of the baselayer 10. The breach 145 of the base layer 10 is located at a connectionof the second side 12 and the fourth side 14 of the base layer 10. Therecess 141 of the base layer 10 is located between the lug 144 and thebreach 145.

The middle layer 20 is bonded onto the bonding member 15 and issandwiched between the base layer 10 and the surface layer 30. Themiddle layer 20 has a size smaller than that of the base layer 10. Themiddle layer 20 covers and protrudes outward from the first side 11 andthe fourth side 14 of the base layer 10, while the second side 12 andthe third side 13 of the base layer 10 evades and protrudes outward fromthe middle layer 20.

The surface layer 30 has a size flush with that of the middle layer 20.Preferably, the surface layer 30 is arranged on the middle layer 20 byprinting, doping or coating.

The bonding member 15 is bonded onto and distributed on a whole surfaceof the base layer 10 evenly and completely. The bonding member 15 islocated between the base layer 10 and the releasing member 16.

The releasing member 16 surrounds the middle layer 20 and covers thesecond side 12 and the third side 13 of the base layer 10. The releasingmember 16 has a substantially L-shaped profile and has a first side 161having a shape matching that of the second side 12 of the base layer 10and a second side 162 having a shape matching that of the third side 13of the base layer 10. The releasing member 16 is removed from thebonding member 15 to partially expose the bonding member 15 covering thesecond side 12 and the third side 13 of the base layer 10.

In assembly, referring to FIGS. 7 and 8 with reference to FIGS. 1-6, aplurality of composite floors are to be assembled. When the releasingmember 16 of a first composite floor 1 is removed from the bondingmember 15 as shown in FIG. 7, the second side 12 and the third side 13of the base layer 10 are exposed. Then, each of the inserts 111 of thebase layer 10 of a second composite floor 1A is pushed toward andinserted into each of the slots 121 of the base layer 10 of the firstcomposite floor 1 as shown in FIG. 8, while the lug 144 of the baselayer 10 of the second composite floor 1A is pushed toward and insertedinto the breach 145 of the base layer 10 of the first composite floor 1so that the first composite floor 1 and the second composite floor 1Aare combined together. At this time, the middle layer 20 of the secondcomposite floor 1A covers the exposed second side 12 of the base layer10 of the first composite floor 1. In such a manner, the compositefloors 1 and 1A are assembled successively to form a transverseconnection.

In addition, the recess 141 of the base layer 10 of a third compositefloor 1B is pushed toward and locked onto the protrusion 131 of the baselayer 10 of the first composite floor 1 (or the second composite floor1A) as shown in FIG. 8, so that the first composite floor 1 (or thesecond composite floor 1A) and the third composite floor 1B are combinedtogether. At this time, the middle layer 20 of the third composite floor1B covers the exposed third side 13 of the base layer 10 of the firstcomposite floor 1. In such a manner, the composite floors 1 and 1B areassembled successively to form a longitudinal connection.

Accordingly, the composite floors are in turn combined together by anengagement between the inserts 111 and the slots 121, an engagementbetween the lug 144 and the breach 145 and an engagement between theprotrusion 131 and the recess 141 so that the composite floors areassembled easily and quickly without needing aid of any hand tool. Inaddition, after the releasing member 16 is removed from the second side12 and the third side 13 of the base layer 10 of one of the compositefloors, the second side 12 and the third side 13 of the base layer 10 ofone of the composite floors are covered and positioned by the middlelayer 20 of another one of the composite floors so that the compositefloors are combined solidly and stably. Further, the composite floorsare directly placed on the ground and are combined together by aninsertion connection so that the composite floors will not break thestructure of the ground so as to maintain the outer appearance of theground after removal of the composite floors and to save the costs ofmaintenance and mending. Further, the composite floors can be reusedafter removal, thereby enhancing the utility of the composite floors.

Although the invention has been explained in relation to its preferredembodiment(s) as mentioned above, it is to be understood that many otherpossible modifications and variations can be made without departing fromthe scope of the present invention. It is, therefore, contemplated thatthe appended claim or claims will cover such modifications andvariations that fall within the true scope of the invention.

1. A composite floor, comprising: a base layer; a middle layer mounted on the base layer; a surface layer mounted on the middle layer; a bonding member located between the base layer and the middle layer; and a releasing member releasably mounted on the bonding member and partially covering the base layer; wherein the base layer has a first side, a second side located opposite to the first side, a third side located between the first side and the second side, and a fourth side located between the first side and the second side located opposite to the third side; the first side of the base layer is provided with a plurality of inserts; each of the inserts of the base layer has a distal end provided with a first stop portion; each of the inserts of the base layer has a first side provided with a first abutting face and has a second side provided with a first tapered face; the second side of the base layer is provided with a plurality of slots which correspond to the inserts of the first side respectively; each of the slots of the base layer has a bottom wall provided with a second stop portion corresponding to the first stop portion of the respective insert; each of the slots of the base layer has a first side provided with a second abutting face corresponding to the first abutting face of the respective insert and has a second side provided with a second tapered face corresponding to the first tapered face of the respective insert; the third side of the base layer is provided with at least one protrusion; the protrusion of the base layer has a distal end provided with a third stop portion; the protrusion of the base layer has two opposite sides each provided with a third tapered face; the fourth side of the base layer is provided with at least one recess which corresponds to the protrusion of the third side; the recess of the base layer has a bottom wall provided with a fourth stop portion corresponding to the third stop portion of the protrusion; the recess of the base layer has two opposite sides each provided with a fourth tapered face corresponding to the third tapered face of the protrusion.
 2. The composite floor of claim 1, wherein the fourth side of the base layer has a first corner provided with a lug and a second corner provided with a breach which corresponds to the lug.
 3. The composite floor of claim 2, wherein the lug of the base layer is located at a connection of the first side and the fourth side of the base layer; the breach of the base layer is located at a connection of the second side and the fourth side of the base layer.
 4. The composite floor of claim 2, wherein the recess of the base layer is located between the lug and the breach.
 5. The composite floor of claim 1, wherein the first stop portion of each of the inserts is parallel with the first side of the base layer; the first abutting face of each of the inserts is perpendicular to the first side of the base layer; the first tapered face of each of the inserts and the first side of the base layer have an obtuse angle defined therebetween.
 6. The composite floor of claim 5, wherein the second stop portion of each of the slots is parallel with the second side of the base layer; the second abutting face of each of the slots is perpendicular to the second side of the base layer; the second tapered face of each of the slots and the second side of the base layer have an obtuse angle defined therebetween.
 7. The composite floor of claim 1, wherein the third stop portion of the protrusion is parallel with the third side of the base layer; the third tapered face of the protrusion and the third side of the base layer have an obtuse angle defined therebetween.
 8. The composite floor of claim 7, wherein the fourth stop portion of the recess is parallel with the fourth side of the base layer; the fourth tapered face of the protrusion and the fourth side of the base layer have an obtuse angle defined therebetween.
 9. The composite floor of claim 1, wherein the inserts of the base layer are equally spaced from each other; the slots of the base layer are equally spaced from each other.
 10. The composite floor of claim 1, wherein the middle layer covers and protrudes outward from the first side and the fourth side of the base layer; the second side and the third side of the base layer evades and protrudes outward from the middle layer.
 11. The composite floor of claim 10, wherein the bonding member is located between the base layer and the releasing member; the bonding member is bonded onto and distributed on a whole surface of the base layer evenly and completely; the releasing member surrounds the middle layer; the releasing member covers the second side and the third side of the base layer.
 12. The composite floor of claim 11, wherein the releasing member is removed from the bonding member to partially expose the bonding member covering the second side and the third side of the base layer.
 13. The composite floor of claim 1, wherein the middle layer is bonded onto the bonding member; the middle layer is sandwiched between the base layer and the surface layer.
 14. The composite floor of claim 1, wherein the middle layer has a size smaller than that of the base layer; the surface layer has a size flush with that of the middle layer.
 15. The composite floor of claim 1, wherein the surface layer is arranged on the middle layer by printing, doping or coating.
 16. The composite floor of claim 1, wherein the releasing member has a substantially L-shaped profile; the releasing member has a first side having a shape matching that of the second side of the base layer and a second side having a shape matching that of the third side of the base layer. 